Israel Tests New Missile Defense

By

Joshua Mitnick

Updated Feb. 25, 2013 6:56 p.m. ET

TEL AVIV—Israel said it staged a successful maiden test launch of the Arrow 3 missile interceptor, a system designed to destroy long-range Iranian warheads in space and give Israel added breathing room in a conflict over Tehran's nuclear program.

The Arrow 3, an Israeli joint project with Boeing that was underwritten with U.S. government financing, is still far from operational. Defense ministry officials declined to give a target...